Pipe-racking apparatus for oil well derricks or the like

ABSTRACT

The pipe-racking apparatus disclosed in detail hereinafter is intended for use in a derrick during the drilling of oil and gas wells or the like. During trips into and out of the wellbore, drill pipe is removed or added in the form of stands made up of a plurality of short pipe sections. This pipe-racking apparatus includes a transfer arm that consists of a pantograph mechanism carrying a pipe engaging and supporting member. The transfer arm is movable on tracks whereby the stands of pipe can be moved in the vertical position between the pipe-racking area and the centerline of the wellbore.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Joseph A. Mitchell 2,730,246 [/1956Stone 2 l4/2.5 Dallas County; 3,145,786 8/1964 O'Neill et al.... 2 14/25X Norman D. Dyer, Jefferson, both of Tex. 3,262,593 7/1966 Hainer 214/1CM X [21] P 849407 Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay [22] F'led 1969AsristanlExaminer-Frank E Werner d Jan. 11 1972 3g iatgme D d t IAttorneys-Robert W. Mayer, Daniel Rubin, Roy L. Van 1 ssgnee 'fWinkle,Wil1iam E. Johnson,.lr. and Roderick w.

a MacDonald [54] PIPE'RACKING APPARATUS FOR WELL ABSTRACT: Thepipe-racking apparatus disclosed in detail DERRICKSORTHELIKE h f d df dkd h 70mins snmwin H s. ereina ter 15 mten e or use in a BI'IIIC urmgt eri mg g g of oil and gas wells or the like. During trips into and out ofthe [52] US. Cl 2l4/2.5 wellbore, drill pipe is removed or added in theform of stands [5 l Int. Cl i E211) 19/14 made up ofa plurality of shortpipe sections. This pipe-racking [50] Field of Search 175/85; apparatusincludes a transfer arm that consists of a pantograph 2 l4/2.5, 1 CM,514 mechanism carrying a pipe engaging and supporting member. Thetransfer arm is movable on tracks whereby the stands of [56] ReierencesCited pipe can be moved in the vertical position between the pipe-UNITED STATES PATENTS racking area and the centerline of the wellbore.2,616,578 11/1952 Dunhane 214/514 UX PATENTED JAN] 1 I972 SHEET 1 0F 3FIG.

/N VE N TORS JOSEPH A. MITCHELL NORMAN D. DYER ATTORNEY PATENIED JAN] 11972 3633.767

SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG. 2B

INVENTORS JOSEPH A. MITCHELL NORMAN D. DYER A TTORNE Y PATENTEB JAM 1I972 SHEET 3 OF 3 FIG. 3

FIG. 5 JOSEPH A. MITCHELL NORMAN D. DYER 1L JAZZ ATTORNEY PIPE-RACKINGAPPARATUS FOR OIL WELL DERRICKS OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to pipe-handling or piperackingapparatus. More specifically, but not by way of example, this inventionrelates to pipe-racking apparatus for handling vertically disposed pipesections in a derrick used for drilling oil and gas wells or the like.

Various types of pipe-handling or pipe-racking apparatus have beenproposed heretofore for the purpose of moving the pipe sections betweenthe centerline of the wellbore and a pipe-racking or setback platform inthe derrick. Typical of the apparatus known in the past is thepipe-handling apparatus disclosed in US Pat. No. 2,730,246 issued to A.L. Stone on Jan. 10,1956. 7

The Stone patent discloses pipe-racking devices that include trackmechanisms or lead screws for manipulating the pipe-engaging portionthereof in a rectilinear fashion so that the pipe stands can be rackedin the derrick in the rather small area provided for that purpose. Sincethe apparatus is limited to rectilinear movements, the pipe racking mustfollow a prescribed method with each of the stands being necessarilypositioned as a result of the limited movements of the pipehandlingapparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of this invention to provideimproved piperacking apparatus for use in a derrick for handlingvertically disposed pipe sections that can be used to quickly andefficiently position the pipe sections as desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improvedpipe-racking apparatus that is extremely rugged, that can be readilyinstalled on existing drilling rigs and that includes the versatility ofbeing able to position the pipe sections in a very compact area of thedrilling rig.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedpipe-racking apparatus that can be fully automated and thereby reducethe manual labor required in conventional pipe handling.

The foregoing objects are accomplished by improved piperacking apparatusfor moving and supporting vertical sections of pipe in a derrick whereinthe apparatus includes: mounting means for supporting the apparatus inthe derrick; transfer arm means carried by the mounting means, the armmeans including an outer member positioned substantially vertically andpivotally mounted on the mounting means, an inner member disposed inparallel relationship to the outer member, and connecting meansextending between and operably joining the inner and outer members whilemaintaining the parallel relationship thereof; and, pipe-engaging meanspositioned on the inner member for engaging and supporting the verticalsections of the pipe in the derrick.

The foregoing and additional objects and advantages of the inventionwill become more apparent as the following detailed description is readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A and 1B taken togethercomprise a side elevation view of a well-drilling rig includingpipe-racking apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention withcertain portions of the derricks being removed for clarity ofillustration.

FIGS. 2A and 2B taken together comprise a front elevation view of therig having the pipe-racking apparatus of the invention located therein.

FIG. 3 is a view taken transversely of the derrick above and showing thepipe-racking area.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, elevation view of the transfer arm of thepipe-racking apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the path of movement of the pipesections between the centerline of the wellbore and a position in theracking area of the derrick.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and FIGS.1A and 1B in particular, shown therein and generally designated by thereference character 10 is a drilling rig that includes a derrick l2pivotally mounted at I4 on a base or platform 16. Struts 18. which havetheir lower ends connected with the base 16. are suitably attached tothe derrick 12 to maintain the derrick 12 in the vertical or erectposition as illustrated.

The base 16 will support a drawworks (not shown) and a rotary table 20that is located on the centerline of the wellbore. Power slips 22 andpower tongs 24 are provided for the purpose of supporting the drillstring 26 in the wellbore and for assembling the drill string 26 fromstands 28 of drill pipe or for breaking the drill string 26 down intostands 28.

A stand 28 consists of one or more joints of drill pipe. Each joint willbe between 20 and 40 feet long. The drill string 26 is made up of aplurality of the stands 28 screwed together.

The drilling rig 10 also includes an area for racking the stands 28. Thearea, which will be referred to herein as the setback 30, is illustratedin FIG. 1A as being a portion of the base 16. The setback 30 will beoffset from the centerline of the wellbore so that the stands 28 can beracked in the drilling rig 10 out of the way of operations beingperformed along the wellbore centerline.

Elongated tracks or guides 32 are attached to the derrick l2 and extendalong a substantial portion of the derrick 12. The tracks 32 areprovided to control the position of a travelling block 34 and anelevator 36 which is connected to the lower end of the travelling block34.

The travelling block 34 is connected with the drawworks (not shown)through a cable system 38 that extends upwardly from the travellingblock 34 over a crown block 40 mounted on the upper end of the derrick12. The cable system 38 permits the travelling block 34 to be raised andlowered in the derrick 12 along the tracks 32.

The drilling rig 10 includes upper pipe-racking apparatus designatedgenerally by the reference character 42 and a lower pipe-rackingapparatus designated generally by the reference character 44. As shownin FIG. 1B, the upper piperacking apparatus includes a frame 46supporting a pair of spaced track members 48 and 50. Movably mounted onthe tracks 48 and 50 is an upper transfer arm assembly 52 that is shownin more detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Upper and lower carriers 54 and 56 movably connect the transfer arm 52with the tracks 48 and 50. The carriers 54 and/or 56 may be providedwith a motor or similar device for propelling the transfer arm 52 alongthe tracks 48 and 50. In addition, either the upper or lower carrier 54or 56 will include a servomotor 58 for pivoting the transfer arm 52relative to the tracks 48 and 50. If desired, the carriers 54 and 56 canbe connected with the tracks 48 and 50 and the tracks moved relative tothe frame 46.

Extending between the carriers 54 and 56 is an outer member 60. Theouter member 60 is in the form of a hollow beam and is arranged tomovably support the lower end of a pair of links or connecting members62 and to pivotally support the upper end of a second connecting member64. The connecting members 62 and 64 are pivotally joined by a pin 66.

The upper end of the members 62 are pivotally connected with the upperend of an inner member 68 that is disposed substantially parallel to theouter member 60. The inner member 68 is also a hollow beam and isarranged to movably support the lower end of the connecting member 64.

The transfer arm 52 is of a geometric construction sometimes referred toas a pantograph. That is, the construction is such that movement of thelower ends of the connecting members 62 and 64 causes the connectingmembers to pivot about the pin 66, moving the inner member 68 relativelytoward and away from the outer member 60.

To cause the movement of the ends of the connecting members 62 and 64, alinear actuator 70, such as a hydraulic cylinder, is mounted in theouter member 60 with its lower end connected with the lower end of theconnecting members 62. Actuation of the linear actuator 70 moves thelower ends of the connecting members 62 and 64 relatively toward thepivoted upper ends thereby moving the inner member 68 relative to theouter member 60.

Movably mounted on the inner member 68 is a pipe-engaging member 72. Thepipe-engaging member 72 has a recess 74 in its outer end portion that issized to receive the drill pipe. The recess 74 is arranged to fit overthe pipe, but is sufficiently small so that the enlarged couplingsjoining the pipe sections to form the stands 28 will not passtherethrough. Thus, the pipe-engaging member 72 can be raised intoengagement with the collars to exert an upward force on the pipe stands28.

As can be seen in FIG. 28, a cable system 76 extends from thepipe-engaging members 72 to a pulley 78 hung in the derrick 12 and thendown to a hoist (not shown). The arrangement is such that the cablesystem 76 can be used to raise and lower the pipe-engaging member 72along the inner member 68 of the transfer arm 52 thereby raising andlowering the stand 28 engaged thereby.

The lower pipe-racking apparatus 44 includes a frame 80 that isconnected with the derrick l2 and with the base 16 to support a pair ofspaced tracks 82 and 84. A transfer arm device 86 is movably mounted onthe tracks 82 and 84. The transfer arm 86 is identical in almost everyrespect to the transfer arm 52 previously described. The transfer arm 86preferably includes a pipe-engaging member 88 that is fixed to the innerarm 68 instead of being movable therealong as previously described inconnection with the transfer arm 52.

It can be appreciated from the foregoing, that appropriate power, suchas electrical or hydraulic, can be provided to the various motors andactuators utilized in the pipe-racking apparatus 42 and 44. Also, it ispreferred that the transfer arms 52 and 86 be controlled forsynchronized movement by an operator located on the base 16. Suchcontrol apparatus is believed to be conventional and is therefore notdescribed in detail herein.

FIG. 3 is a transverse view of the derrick [2 taken just above the frame46 and looking downward. The track 50 will be located in the derrick l2and is in approximately the same position as the monkey board of aconventional derrick. Spaced racking fingers 90 extend from the frame 46toward the track 50 providing a plurality of racking slots 92. Thefingers 90 are positioned directly over the setback 30.

OPERATION PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pipe-racking apparatus 42 and 44 ofthis invention are utilized in the drilling rig during the removal ofthe drill pipe from the wellbore and replacement of the drill pipetherein. Since the pipe-handling procedure during the replacement of thedrill pipe is substantially a reverse of the pipe-handling procedureduring removal of the drill pipe, only the removal procedure will bedescribed.

The drawworks is actuated causing the cable system 38 to lower thetravelling block 34 and elevators 36 downwardly until the elevators 36can be attached to the upper end of the drill string 26 extending fromthe wellbore. The cable system 38 is then actuated to raise thetravelling block 34 and elevators 36 in the derrick l2 lifting the drillstring 26 therewith When one stand 28 of the drill string 26 has beenraised into the derrick 12, the power slips 22 are set holding the drillstring 26 in the wellbore with the stand 28 extending therefrom.

The travelling block 34 is then lowered as the threaded connectionjoining the stand 28 to the remainder of the drill string 26 isunthreaded. As the stand 28 is being unthreaded, the transfer arms 52and 86 are moved inwardly toward the centerline of the wellbore untilthe pipe-engaging members 72 and 88 thereon have engaged the stand 28.As soon as the stand 28 has been unthreaded from the drill string 26,the cable system 76 is actuated, raising the pipe-engaging member 72 tolift the stand 28 free from the remainder of the drill string 26.

When the stand 28 is free, the actuator is energized, collapsing thetransfer arms 52 and 86 moving the stand 28 outwardly away from thecenterline of the wellbore and toward the pipe-racking area. Thetransfer arms 52 and 86 and the connected pipe stand 28 are thenpropelled along the tracks to the appropriate racking position above thesetback 30. As shown in FIG. 6, the pipe-engaging member 72 and thestand 28 are then pivoted and the hydraulic actuator energized to movethe inner member 68 away from the outer member 60 so that the stand 28is disposed in the proper slot 92 between the racking fingers 90. Thecable system 76 is then utilized to lower the stand 28 and pipe-engagingmember 72 until the lower end of the stand 28 is resting on the setback30. The transfer arms 52 and 86 are then collapsed, returned to the areaof the centerline of the wellbore, and turned to a position insubstantial alignment with the length of the tracks to pick upsubsequent stands 28 of pipe as the drill string 26 is pulled from thewellbore.

Since the angular position of the transfer arms 52 and 86 is controlledby a servomotor, it is not necessary that the travelling block 34 bemounted on the guides 32. The ability to position the pipe-engagingmember 72 in various angular positions permits an operator of thepipe-rackin g apparatus 42 and 44 to seek the stand 28 as it hangs inthe derrick 12.

While FIG. 6 illustrates movement of the pipe-engaging member 72 onlytoward the right, it will also be apparent that the pipe-engaging member72 can be pivoted to the left in order to utilize the racking arealocated to the left of the tracks 48 and 50. The use of the collapsiblemechanism built into the transfer arms 52 and 86 permits the arms to beof rugged construction and mounted on heavy tracks that do not interferewith normal operations in the drilling rig 10 since they can berelatively short. Also, the collapsible structure of the transfer armspermits the transfer arms to be pivoted in a relatively small areathereby conserving space in the derrick 12.

The embodiment described in detail hereinbefore is presented by way ofexample only and it will be understood that many changes andmodifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. For example, the terms derrick and rig" asutilized herein shall include all of the various types of apparatus forrunning conduit into and out of wellbores, such as fixed derricks andcollapsible masts.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Pipe-racking apparatus for moving and supporting vertical sections ofpipe in a derrick, said apparatus comprising:

mounting means for supporting said apparatus in the derrick;

transfer arm means carried by said mounting means, said arm meansincluding an outer member positioned substantially vertically andpivotally mounted on said mounting means,

an inner member disposed in parallel relationship to said outer member,and

connecting means extending between and operably joining said inner andouter members for varying the distance between said inner and outermembers while maintaining said parallel relationship;

pipe-engaging means positioned on said inner member for engaging andsupporting the vertical sections of pipe in the derrick, wherein saidconnecting means includes:

a first connecting member having one end pivotally connected with saidouter member and the other end movably connected with said inner member;

a second connecting member having one end pivotally connected with saidinner member and the other end movably connected with said outer member;and,

said connecting members being pivotally connected between said ends.

2 The pipe-racking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connecting meansalso includes power means for moving said other ends of said connectingmembers toward and away from said one ends of said connecting memberswhereby said inner and outer members are moved apart and together.

3. The pipe-racking apparatus of claim 1 and also including means forpivoting said transfer arm means relative to said mounting means.

4. The pipe-racking apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said pipe-engaging means is movable along said inner member; and,

said apparatus also includes means for moving said pipe-engaging meansfor raising and lowering the pipe sections when engaged thereby.

5. The pipe-racking apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for movingsaid pipe-engaging means includes hoisting apparatus operably connectedwith said pipe-engaging means and arranged to be mounted on saidderrick.

6. The pipe-racking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting meansincludes spaced upper and lower track members;

said transfer arm means includes an upper carriage movable along saidupper track member and pivotally supporting an upper end of said outermember, a lower carriage movable along said lower track member andpivotally supporting a lower end of said outer member; and,

at least one of said carriages including means for propelling saidtransfer arm means along said track members.

7. Pipe-racking apparatus for moving and supporting vertical sections ofpipe in a derrick, said apparatus comprising:

mounting means for supporting said apparatus in the derrick,

said mounting means including spaced upper and lower track members;

transfer arm means carried by said mounting means. said arm meansincluding an outer member positioned substantially vertically andpivotally mounted on said mounting means.

an inner member disposed in parallel relationship to said outer member,

connecting means extending between and operably joining said inner andouter member for varying the distance between the inner and outermembers while maintaining said parallel relationship, said connectingmeans including a first connecting member having one end pivotallyconnected with said outer member and having the other end movablyconnected with said inner member, a second connecting member having oneend pivotally connected with said inner member and having the other endmovably connected with said outer member, and said connecting membersbeing pivotally connected between said ends,

power means for moving said other ends of said connecting members towardand away from said one end of said connecting members whereby said innerand outer members are moved apart and together,

an upper carriage movable along said upper track member and pivotallysupporting an upper end of said outer member,

a lower carriage movable along said lower track member and pivotallysupporting a lower end of said outer member, and

at least one of said carriages including means for propelling saidtransfer arm means along said track members;

pipe-engaging means movably positioned on said inner member for engagingand supporting the vertical sections of pipe in the derrick;

means for moving said pipe-engaging means for raising or lowering thepipe sections when engaged thereby; and,

means for pivoting said transfer arm means relative to said mountingmeans.

1. Pipe-rackiNg apparatus for moving and supporting vertical sections ofpipe in a derrick, said apparatus comprising: mounting means forsupporting said apparatus in the derrick; transfer arm means carried bysaid mounting means, said arm means including an outer member positionedsubstantially vertically and pivotally mounted on said mounting means,an inner member disposed in parallel relationship to said outer member,and connecting means extending between and operably joining said innerand outer members for varying the distance between said inner and outermembers while maintaining said parallel relationship; pipe-engagingmeans positioned on said inner member for engaging and supporting thevertical sections of pipe in the derrick, wherein said connecting meansincludes: a first connecting member having one end pivotally connectedwith said outer member and the other end movably connected with saidinner member; a second connecting member having one end pivotallyconnected with said inner member and the other end movably connectedwith said outer member; and, said connecting members being pivotallyconnected between said ends.
 2. The pipe-racking apparatus of claim 1wherein said connecting means also includes power means for moving saidother ends of said connecting members toward and away from said one endsof said connecting members whereby said inner and outer members aremoved apart and together.
 3. The pipe-racking apparatus of claim 1 andalso including means for pivoting said transfer arm means relative tosaid mounting means.
 4. The pipe-racking apparatus of claim 1 wherein:said pipe-engaging means is movable along said inner member; and, saidapparatus also includes means for moving said pipe-engaging means forraising and lowering the pipe sections when engaged thereby.
 5. Thepipe-racking apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for moving saidpipe-engaging means includes hoisting apparatus operably connected withsaid pipe-engaging means and arranged to be mounted on said derrick. 6.The pipe-racking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting meansincludes spaced upper and lower track members; said transfer arm meansincludes an upper carriage movable along said upper track member andpivotally supporting an upper end of said outer member, a lower carriagemovable along said lower track member and pivotally supporting a lowerend of said outer member; and, at least one of said carriages includingmeans for propelling said transfer arm means along said track members.7. Pipe-racking apparatus for moving and supporting vertical sections ofpipe in a derrick, said apparatus comprising: mounting means forsupporting said apparatus in the derrick, said mounting means includingspaced upper and lower track members; transfer arm means carried by saidmounting means, said arm means including an outer member positionedsubstantially vertically and pivotally mounted on said mounting means,an inner member disposed in parallel relationship to said outer member,connecting means extending between and operably joining said inner andouter member for varying the distance between the inner and outermembers while maintaining said parallel relationship, said connectingmeans including a first connecting member having one end pivotallyconnected with said outer member and having the other end movablyconnected with said inner member, a second connecting member having oneend pivotally connected with said inner member and having the other endmovably connected with said outer member, and said connecting membersbeing pivotally connected between said ends, power means for moving saidother ends of said connecting members toward and away from said one endof said connecting members whereby said inner and outer members aremoved apart and together, an upper carriage movable along said uppertrack member and pivotally supporting an upper end of said outer member,a lower carriage movable along said lower track member and pivotallysupporting a lower end of said outer member, and at least one of saidcarriages including means for propelling said transfer arm means alongsaid track members; pipe-engaging means movably positioned on said innermember for engaging and supporting the vertical sections of pipe in thederrick; means for moving said pipe-engaging means for raising orlowering the pipe sections when engaged thereby; and, means for pivotingsaid transfer arm means relative to said mounting means.